Roller mill



y 13, 1965 J. w. DODGEN ETAL 3, 4, 8

ROLLER MILL Filed Nov. 20, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Nl/ENTOA$ Joz h/. DODGE/V KENNETH R. JOHNSON Mspro/v D. 5M4 PP 1 TT IVES 5 J ly 13, 1 J. w. DODGEN ETAL 3, 8

ROLLER MILL Filed Nov. 20, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I -:l\\\\\\ w July 13, 1965 J. w. DODGEN ETAL 3,194,288

ROLLER MILL Filed Nov. 20, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l/vve/vrops J05 W. DODGE/V MERTO/V D. SIV/JPP y 1965 J. w. DODGEN ETAL 3,

ROLLER MILL Filed Nov. 20, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 96 L mo //v VE/VTORS J05 N. Booms/v KENNETH R. JOHNSON m4 MERTO/Y D. Sun/ p ms" 02 United StatesPatent O 3,194,288 ROLLER MILL the W. Dodgen, Kenneth R. .lohnson, and Merton i).

Snapp, Humboldt, Iowa, assignors to Dodgen industries, Inc, Humboldt, lowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Nov. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 325,117 8 Claims. (Cl. 14679) This invention pertains to a roller mill unit which perconditions various types of grains for feeding purposes, and reduces the material from its original size or shape to a predetermined particle size. This invention particularly relates to the type of machine that can pre digest such objects as ear corn by means of a rotor acting in conjunction with an arcuate screen, whereupon the shredded material moves between rotating grinding rolls to complete the operation. a

A principal object of this invention is to provide a roller mill that presents a progressively narrower path and thence a progressively wider path for the material being treated as it moves from the point of entry to the discharge point in the space between the rotor and screen.

A further object of this invention is to provide a roller mill wherein the roll units can be adjustably spaced, and can also be selectively operated without changing the predetermined adjustment.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a roller mill with an auxiliary power transmittal means which can power both a feed loading mechanism and a feed discharge mechanism.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a roller mill with an auxiliary power transmittal means which utilizes an idler shaft in the power train which is substantally free from end thrust.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a roller mill wherein the elbows, angers, auger tubes and spouts used in the feed conveying means can be interchanged with respective corresponding parts to add flexibility to the exact design of the resulting unit, and to permit additional auger sections to be added, for example, by merely duplicating like parts. The fulfillment of this object obviously reduces the number of different parts required to meet all of the different design possibilities.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a roller mill which is simple in design, economical to manufacture and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the roller mill in one of its operating positions;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the left hand side of the roller mill as shown in FIG. 1, but shows the roller mill in a second possible operating postion;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate form of discharge conduit;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of the upper end of the feeding chute;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the roller mill taken on line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the rotor unit;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the screen unit and'its retaining rods;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the reverse side of the screen unit and its anchoring hooks;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of .the right hand end of the roller mill as viewed in FIG. 1 with the protective cover removed therefrom;

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of the roller mill unit taken on line 1tl1il of FIG. 9, and shows the screen adjustment means;

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the roller mill unit taken on line 1111 of FIG. 9 and shows the adjustment control shaft for the roll units with the control lever secured thereto;

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the roller mill taken on line 1212 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective View of the auxiliary power transmission means showing the power train for the feed supply means when the unit is in an operating position similar to that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the free end of the protruding rotor shaft as viewed on line 1414 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view of the roller mill taken on line 15-45 of FIG. 13 and illustrates the means by which the feed supply means is controlled;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged scale end view of the rotor in its normal operating position with respect to the screen unit;

FIG. 17 is an end elevational view of the roller mill similar to that of FIG. 9 but has portions thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the roll control means as viewed on line 18-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the fine adjustment roll control means as viewed on line 1818 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to that of FIG. 17 with the control lever in a position to spread the roll elements; and

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the fine adjustment roll control means as viewed on line 2tl-20 of FIG. 19.

The numeral 10 designates a suitable frame with axle shafts 12 extending laterally from each side thereof. Wheels 14 on shafts 12 support the frame, and a towing means 15 is secured to the forward end thereof. A compartment 16 is formed by parallel side walls 18 and 20 which are enclosed by end walls 21. The compartment 16 includes an upper ear corn head compartment 16a which detachably rests on and is secured to the lower roller compartment 16 by elements 16c. Like reference numerals are used for the walls of both compartments. Wall 18 is shorter than wall 20. The lower portion 22 of compartment 16 terminates in a V-shaped portion, as shown in FIG. 5. An intake chute 24 extends upwardly and outwardly from the top of wall 18, and a hood 26 on the top of compartment 16 extends from the top of wall 20 to the open top portion of intake chute 24. A baffle plate 28 is pivotally supported by hinge 29 and extends vertically downwardly therefrom to partially yieldably close the throat of intake chute 24- as it communicates with compartment 16. An arcuate screen 30 is comprised of three parallel arcuate ribs 32 which have their ends rigidly secured to straight hollow tubes 34. A perforated arcuate plate 36 is welded or otherwise secured to the inner perimeters of ribs 32 and a plurality of straight spaced apart cutting bars 38 are rigidly secured to the inner peripherial surface of plate 36. With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, elongated substantially horizontal slots 40 appear in the upper portions of end walls 21. A T-shaped rod 42 is adapted to extend through the slots 49 and one of the hollow tubes 34, and the upper end of the screen is thus being supported by the engagement of the ends of rod 42 in the slots. A cotter key or pin 44 detachably extends through a suitable aperture in the rods 42 (and 42A) to detachably keep the rods in place. The lower end of the screen Ed is similarly supported but the ends of the rod 42A extending through the other hollow tube 34 are positioned in apertures (not shown) in end Walls 21 of compartment 16.

' mounted on this lower rod 42A, and its pivotal position can be adjusted through the arcuate length of slots'ti.

The ends of rod 42 extend through aperturecl bar46 which in turn is welded to one end of threaded rod 48. The rods 48 extend through an apertured. bracket 50 which is welded toendwalls 21 of compartment 16. Stop nuts 49 are threadably. secured to'rod48 at either side of bracket '50, and the position'ofthe upper end of the screen 39 can.

be adjusted through the length of slots 4t) by adjusting end of'screen 30 is normally positioned in a forward location at. the lower end of the: intake chute 24-, while the upper end of the screen is positioned above and rearwardly ofthe lower end. 7 a e n V Eyelets 52 are Welded to the end ribs 32 and as shown is 7 nuts 49 which moves the ends of rod 42 in the slots 4%); It shouldbe noted in FEGS. 5, 9 and 16 that thelower H V aperture in :the lower ends of bars 8,6.Nuts'10tl are in FIG. 5, hooks 54 are received in aperturesin the eye 1 lets; and the other ends of the hooks extend. through wall 20. Adjusting nuts 55 onhooks 54 enable thetension exerted on the screen 30 by the hooks to be varied.l The 98 between the intermediate nut 102) and 'bar 96,: and f lower eyelets 52 (FIG. '5) will receive hooks 54 when screen 39 is in a reversed position.

, A bracket 56 as shown in FIG. 5 extends downwardly I from hood 26and a battle plate .58 is detachably secured thereto in a position taugentially to the upper edge, of TV screen 30. The detachable aspects of plate 53 permit .the.

rotor (to be discussed hereafter) to be more easily re rnoved from compartment 16. V

. A rotor 59 including a horizontal shaft 69 isrotatablyj mounted near its end portions-by suitable bearing means.

(not shown) in the end walls 21' of compartment: 16. A

plurality of spaced-apart substantially oval-shaped plates z'are rigidly secured by welding or the like to shafted,

and spacer tubes 64 are concentrically positioned on the Bars 61 extend radially outwar'dly from shaft 69 andthe .bars of each pair are in alignment but are disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of plates 62. The pairs of bars be- 7 tween each pair of plates are angularly disposed with re Plates 62 extend transversely from.

f'spect to each other. e V shaft otlfinthe same direction and the outer ends thereof areclipped to assume a straight edge. Clip angles 65 are welded or otherwise secured to the outer ends of plates 62, p

and elongated cutting bars 66 are bolted tothe clip angles positions on opposite sides of the center are reversed with respect to each other.

I With reference to FIGS. 5 and 16, it is noted that the rotor 59 is disposed within screen 3t) and that the'clearance.

between the lowermost bar 38 of screen 30 and the pivotal 3 are of bars 66 on rotor 59 creates an intake opening or passage 70 which progressively narrows to a slight clearanceat 72 adjacent the center of the screen. The passage-- way of the material between the rotor 59. andscreen then' becomes progressively wider. .until the di scharge point 74 is of substantially the same size as the intake passage '79;

' Opposed bearing elements 76 are rigidly secured to the.

7 lower portion of, end walls 21 of compartment 16 at a point below screen 3%); 'Roll- 78 has its supporting shaft 79'rotatably mounted in the bearingelements '76. .Roll 7 '78 has a roughened or textured surface as shown in FIGS.

11, 17 and-l9 A companionroll 80,:which is identical .to roll 78, has itssupporting shaft 82 extending through 3 suitableslots (not shown) in end walls'Zl of compart-L ment'16 so that theroll 80 can be moved towards or away 'f r'omroll 78. Bearing elements 84 rotatably. receive the outer ends of shaft 82, and these bearing elements are then welded or otherwise secured to vertical bars 86. The

are welded towalls 2120f:cornpartrnent,16. The, upper ends-of bars'SS movably eugage the horizontal flangesof clip anglesi i'l which are also v veided'to end walls :21.

' a A horizontal control shaft 92 rotatably extends through;

the forward lower portion of compartnient id 'and cylindrica'l'lugs 94 arerigidly and eccentrically securedtoop positeendsthereof to provide. a-camssurface whichis normally nestled between theivertical flangesfof. clip angles" 9-iland the forward faces of vertical bars $6} Rotation of, j

shaft 92 cau s e's'the; cam lugs 94 to i'nove againstthc bars? .86 to 'cause'the bars; bearing elements84 and roll to;

5 move towards roll'78: Y

' A bar 96-is-weldedto each ofthe' end walls 21 of com partment 16 below roll- 80, and rod 93 extends'iorwardly' therethrough and movably protrudes throughfapsuitable threaded'on oppositeendsofrod 98;;and an intermediate nut IOZris similarly mounted on the rod onthe rearward.

side of the'bars 86. A coil spring-104 is 'disposedjon;rod

through the roll units.

'As shown in-FIGS. 11,,11 and '19,:a yokekllflis rigidly secured to control shaft192. Elongated -ro d 112,has its lower end pivotally secured to yoke 110, vandits'upperend threadably received in nutsilS. which ar'e's'eparate'dby and rigidly securedto ghollow sleeve 114:2 (FIGS. '1 hand 20.). An'elon gated hollowsleeve-ll is welded to the upper end of the uppermost nut 113 and it is capable ofreceiving the upper; end fi rod 112.}. An upstandingpostllda is: I f welded to-clip angle 9&0 and'the vupper endof post 1141: i V is pivotallysecured togone end of yoke jhandleill'lgi The... f yokejhandle theniembrace's s'leeve 114a. and is 1 pivoted 1 thereto by pin and backing assemblies .118 and 119,- The. downward movementof the handle 11?. is..releasably restrained by latch element '120: (FIGS: 1 and 7.) which is .7 secured to the end of intakejchute2'4. ;The position of roll Stlwith respect to roll 781can be finely adjusted'by the,

fine adjustment means; comprised of. rod 112 and its "related structure; By rotating sleeve '116 in. one direction; rod Y 112 can be'raised (or lowered), which gimpartsrotationalmovement to control shaft 932 and cam lu'gs 94. ASdescribed previously, the cam, lugs M, being eccentrically I I mounted on control'shaft, 92;move againstithe bars-86' to determine the position of roll 3%) with respect to roll 78; Once this fine adjustment has been predetermined for the 7 type of feed-being. processed,.the rolls '78 andrSG can be I 'irnmediatelyfseparated by moving thei yoke handle 117." downwardlyfrom; the 'positionshown irrFIG. :11 to-the V positionShowmdnFIG. 19.;- w en the yoke; handle 'isl re-i 1 turned tothe position of F IGL IZ thefinelpredeterrniued adjusted.positioirof the rolls. 78 and n80is immediately resumed without further adjustment.

A base angle-122 is welded;or'othe r"'se secured .to-the 7 bottom of side wall 18 and abentibar 124 extendsupward-.

I ly therefrom and is pivotallyisecuredthereto by hinge 125;-

' U-shaped yoke 128- (E1619) extendsi inwardly from bari.

124i and idler pulley 1-30 is rotatably secured-thereto; A 5" e horizontal rod 132-'has its inner. end'rigidly" secured tojclip angle 90, and nut l34 is threadably mounted on'the center.

portion thereof: The; outer' end *ofgrod 132/? extends through anapertu'refin' the .ppper end of bar 124, s ndy 'spring136 separates Hut 134 andthe lup'per end of theba "As shown in FIG. 1;, a universalljoint connector 138715 secured to one end of rotor shaft 68 to universally and detachably connect the shaft to a drive shaft 1411. Drive shaft 140 can be connected to the power-take-otf shaft of a tractor or the like. A shield 142 is detachably mounted by convenient means to end wall 21 to cover the joint connector 138.

As shown in FIG. 9, pulley wheels 144, 146 and 143 are rigidly mounted on the ends of shafts 61B, 79 and 82, respectively, and are in alignment with idler pulley 138, A gear ring (not shown) is integral with the pulley wheel 146 and is in alignment with gear 158 which is rigidly secured to one end of auger shaft 152. Auger shaft 152 is supported by bearings 154 which in turn are secured to the lower portions of the end walls 21. The auger shaft extends through the V-shaped bottom portion 22 of compartment 16. A link chain 156 operatively connects the gear ring on pulley 146 and the gear 1511. Continuous pulley belts 158 extend downwardly from pulley 144 around the rearwardside of pulley 146 and thence underneath pulley 146; thence horizontally and forwardly underneath idler pulley 130; thence upwardly and over the forward side of the idler pulley; thence underneath pulley 148; and thence upwardly from pulley 148 towards and over pulley 144 to its point of beginning. The spring loaded idler pulley 13!) serves to maintain tension in belts 158 as roll 88 is moved,

as described above. As roll 80 moves toward roll 78,

spring 136 is compressed, and bent bar 124 and pulley 130 move rearwardly or to the right, as viewed in FIG. 9. As roll 88 is moved forwardly and away from roll 78, spring 134 expands, and bar 124 and pulley 138 will then move forwardly to continue tension on the belts 158.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14-, one end of rotor shaft 68 opposite to drive shaft 140 terminates in splined portion 160, which is adapted to receive suitable connectors so that auxiliary equipment can be powered. A U-shaped channel 162 is welded or otherwise secured to wall 18 of compartment 16 underneath intake chute 24. Bearing elements 164 rotatably support horizontal shaft 166. A second U-shaped channel 168 is oppositely disposed to channel 162 and the ends thereof are pivotally secured together by vertical shaft 178 in such a manner that the flanges of the two channels can close into an overlapping position. Separate bevel gears 172 and 174 are rigidly secured to shaft 170, and gear 172 meshes with gear 176 on the end of shaft 166. Bearing elements 178 on channel 168 rotatably support horizontal shaft 186, and gear 182 on the end thereof meshes with gear 174 on vertical shaft 178.

A bracket 184 is rigidly secured to the upper flange of channel 168 and is adapted to detachably receive in any convenient manner the upper end of supply loader 186. Loader 186 is comprised of an elongated body member 188 which is generally U-shaped in cross section and has an upper end that terminates in a downwardly discharge plate 198. As indicated in FIG. 4, magnets 192 are secured to plate 198 to catch any metallic particles that may inadvertently move over the plate. An auger 194 is mounted within the body member 188. As shown in FIG. 2, an auxiliary power shaft 196 is rotatably connected to one side of body member 188, and a gear on the lower end thereof is connected to the lower end of anger 194 by link chain 198. A length adjustable drive shaft 200 has one of its ends secured to shaft 196 by a universal connector, and the upper end thereof is universally connected to shaft 180 on channel 168, as shown in FIG. 13. A length adjustable cover 282 houses shaft 2%. Since they incorporate conventional structure, the length-adjustable structural features of shaft 288 and cover 282 have not been shown. 7

A jack 204 (FIG. 1) has its upper portion 206 pivotally connected to the lower portion of channel 168 as shown in FIG. 13. The lower end thereof slidably extends into elongated tube 208 which has its lower end pivotally secured to the lower underside portion of body member 188. A rack 218 is rigidly secured to portion 286 of jack 284, and the rack passes in operative engagement with a pinion 212 on the tube 288, which is also operatively connected to crank 214. The crank 214 can be rotated to adjust the over all length of the jack, and hence, to adjust the inclined position of the supply loader 186.

With reference to FIGS. 13 and 15, a small pulley 216 is rigidly mounted on rotor shaft 61), and a larger pulley 218 is-rigidly secured to shaft 166. A clip angle 228 is welded to wall 21 and yoke 222 extends downwardly therefrom. An L-shaped arm 224 is pivotally secured by one of its ends to yoke 222, and idler pulley 226 is rotatably secured to the apex thereof. Spring 228 interconnects angle 228 and L-shaped arm 224 to yieldingly resist the clockwise rotation of the arm, as viewed in FIG. 15. Continuous belt 231 extends underneath pulley 226, and thence around pulleys 216 and 218. A control cable 232 has one of its ends secured to the lower end of L-shaped arm 224, and is then threaded around the corner of compartment 16 through tube 234. Cable 232 then is threaded about guide element 233 on the upper end of shaft 170, and thence terminates in rigid connection on handle 236 (FIG. 1). Handle 256 is pivotally secured to bracket 238, which in turn is secured to the center side portion of supply loader 186. When handle 236 is pivoted to one extreme position, it engages the top of side board 241) on loader 186. While in this position, the cable 232 rotates the L-shaped arm 224 (PEG. 15) clockwise and lifts it and pulley 226 upwardly to loose belt 238. This action serves to stop the rotation of pulley 218 and related components to stop the rotation of the auger 194 in the loader 186. When handle 236 is rotated in an opposite direction, it engages the top of side board 242. This action slackens the tension in cable 232 and allows spring 228 to pull pulley 226 back into tight engagement with belt 230 so that the belt can once again rotate pulley 218 and actuate the power train connected thereto.

As shown in FIG. 12, auger shaft 152 extends through a collar 244 on one end of the V-shaped portion 22 of compartment 16, and an elbow tube 246 is rotatably secured to collar 244 by detachable circular ring 248. Elbow tube 246 includes a normally horizontal tube section 251B; a vertical tube section 252, and a center diagonal tube section 254 that biases and interconnects sections 250 and 252. Plate 256 on center section 254 is removably secured thereto by bolts or the like so that access can be had to compartment 258 which is formed by vertical wall 260 and horizontal wall 262. Compartment 258 still leaves a material passageway 263 in the center tube section 254. Stub shafts 264 extend through suitable bearing means in each of the walls 260' and 262, and each of these shafts has a square outer end which is adapted to be received in auger shaft sockets 266 on auger shafts 152 and 268. A bar 267 on socket 266 of shaft 152 serves to move feed material upwardly towards shaft 268. Bevel gears 269 on these shafts 264 operatively connect the shafts. Auger tube section 278 is rotatably secured to tube section 252 by detachable circular ring 248A. Handles 271 extend from tube 270 to facilitate its rotation. In FIG. 1, a material discharge spout 272 is detachably secured to the top of tube section 252 by ring 248B. In FIG. 3, an elbow tube 246A is rotatably mounted on the top of tube section 270, and a lateral tube 2711A is secured thereto, with a material discharge spout 272A being rotatably mounted on the outer end thereof by ring 248C. Because of the identity between elbow tubes 246 and 246A; between tube sections 276) and 270A; and the connection means for spouts 272 and 272A, an implement dealer can supply a plurality of parts and be in a position to provide both the designs in FIGS. 1 and 2, without stocking special parts for each separate design. A sleeve and chain assembly 273 (FIG. 2) conventionally serves to adjustably maintain the tube 252 in the desired angular position.

The normal operation of the device of this invention is as follows: The traveling position of the unit is generally depicted in FIG. 1 except that the handle 236 position of FIG. 17.

same

i would be in a position of engagement with the .top' of 'sideboard'24tl, and the jack 204' would have been actue V ated in they manner describedto elevate the lower ;end :of supply loader 186 out of engagement with the ground surface. It Will be noted that the two'channels 16 2 (and E 168 are closed upon each other. A pin (not shown) can extend through registering apertures 274 .(FIG. 13) 'in the bottom flanges of the two channels to effect theiritemporary rigid connection. The, overlapping travel position of the two channels creates an extremely'strong unitary 3 structure, and the closed position of these elementslpro tect the gears thereon'from mud and'dirt.

When the unit'is located at the place where the milling.

operationis to take place, such as depicted in FIG. 2,

thechannels 162 and 168 are disconnected in thelmanner.

described and channel 168 is pivoted to the position de-- sired. Thus,.in FIG. 2, the supply loader 186 has been rotated ninety degrees from the position in FIG. 1. The

jack 204 .is'operated in the mannerdescribed to adjust loader 186 to the desired angle} The tube 270 is released from the sleeve of sleeve and chain assembly- 273 and is rotated on collar 244 by means of elbow'tube 246, to. the desired angle. Sufficientlinks in the chain of assem- 1 bly 273are used to maintain tube 270 in a properposition that material can be discharged from spout 272 into wagon'276. Tube 270 is not necessarily so rotated during. all operations and maybe used in a vertical position. If it is desired to move the material a greater distance laterally from the machinethan can be accommodated by the deviceof FIG..2, ring 2483 can be released so that spout 27.2 can be removed from thetube 27.0. Anielbow tube 246A can be rotatably placed on the. top of tube 270 and movably held there by ring 2483, and tube 270A- can extend laterally therefrom. The spout 272 (or a.

similar spout 272A) can then be mounted on the outer 1 end of tube270A- to reach a second "wagon 27613;?

. i' thrust load onithe shaft and the gears 17.6 and 182.

V The supply of .ear. corn, :for. .eirample, into the ,intalre i V chute 2 4 (FIGQI) is controlled by-the controlhandle 236 on the supply loader. 186; 'Ifhe' ear. corn'isfdirected to; the intake passage 70 (FIGI '16 between scree'nffit) and rotor 52 bybaflle plate 58 andrthe sloping bottom of chutet 24. The cutting bars: 66 andIshear bar68' preliminarily crush the ear corn cobs against the interior surface. of screen30 and cutting bars'38 thereon. As the particles of crushedlfeed are thrown toward the center a 70 of the passageway, thedepththereof; decreases asthe: clearance between therotor 59 and tliescreen 3t) bfecome's..; narrower. However, beyondIpoint,70,.the passageway becomes progressively; greater untilat'thedischarge point 74', the clearancebetween the. screen filland rotor; 591is substantially that at the pointiof entry 70'. 1' This unique passageway of progressively narrower-width and thence progressively greater width resnlts in 'an'extrern'ely efiij; q cient cutting action;wherein thermaterial is morereadily drawn into the cutting area,is mqreefiiciently crushed;

and then is easily and quickly discharged from the upper portion of the screen; The tension andfposition ofthe; V screen 30 can1be adjusted in the mannerde'seribed above,

and the screen can also .be removedfljasiindicated above mined spaced setting of thetrollsr Again, if, the rollsia're The control handle 117 which is used to move roll 80 towards and away from roll 78' can be moved to the upper The machine operator, either throughexperience or through trial and error, can rotate sleeve 116 .t-ocreatethe precise adjustment desiredas to the spacing .of the rolls. The control handlefis maintained in the u ppermost. position of FIG, 17 when the rolls are performing their grinding function, and the rolls can be substantially disengaged from. operative .coaction by moving the handle downward to the position of FIG. 1 19. However, whenever'thehandle 117 ismoved upwardly again, :the same fine adjustment of the rolls created by sleeve 116 is maintained, so the'rolls do not need tobe finely adjusted eachtime they are disengaged.

' The drive shaft 140 is connected to the power-takeoff shaft .of a tractor, or to any other convenient power source. With reference to-FIG..9, the rotation of rotor shaft -by the'power shaft 140 will cause rotation v of shafts. 79 and 82 (and hence, rolls 78 and by means of belt 158. ,Tension in the belt will be maintainedin' the mannerde'scribed by thewoperation-of idler pulley and its,relatedstructure. Auger shaft 152ispowered by, Shaft 79, chain 156 andgear 15 0. 7 With reference to FIG. 12, auger shaft 152'conveys rotational power'to the vertical auger shaft 268 through elbow tube 246:,

Similarly, auger shaft 268 can conyeynrotational power to Lth'eauger shaft. within horizontal tube 270A through elbow 246A when the structure of FIG? isemployed.

7 With power being supplied to rotor shaft'60, handles.

236611 loader 186 can be actuated in the manner deg}:

scribed to permitidler. pulley 226 (FIG. 15) .to tighten belt 230, The rotational motionthus imparted to pulley: 1 218causes'shaft 166'to10tater Ge'ar176 on shaft 166' rotates gear 172 and shaft170, which in turn rotates gean 174 to cause the rotation of gear 182. and' shaft 180.; V 'Shaft180- then veifectsthe rotation of the drive shaft 200,

which in turn effects the rotation of augershaft 194; in

theloader 186 in the manner-describedabove. Th euse of the two gearsf172and174 on shaft iequalizes their that this invention objectives not to be ,used, the controllever117. can bemoved tothei lowerpositionofFIGQ l9 and the rolls canbe separated withoutdistufbing the V predetermined .fine olperational.

spacing thereofa. If any foreign 5 dense :material' passes; I throughthe: rolls, such asaparticles 'of steel, ,therollswill' spread apart in the manner indicated.

' The crushed particlesv ofifeed.move downwardlygfrorn" between rolls 78*and 86 to thejv-shapedibottom 22 of compartment 16, wherein it is carried by augers 152 and t 268 to a pointfof discharge The compartments 258 in; elbow tubes 246 and'246Bserve1to keep 1thejgears 269' free from'the feed material and yet -aQclea'r passageway 263 is left for the feed.- Rem ovablei pla'te 2356f assists,

in servicing the gears, if necessarylf tained even though the rolls are periodically moved. to an inoperative positioni' Thus, from the foregoingfit' is seen I a will accomplish atleast all stated Sorn'e' .Changes' "may be made. in {rh -.construc tion and arrangement of our rollermill without departing'from the. a a real spirit'andpn'rpose/of our inventioniand'it i's' ouri' intention to cover by ourclainis, anymodified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents 'Whichmaybe;

reasonably included within their scope... 7'

' We'claimf fe l V 1. Inaroller mill, 7.; a J a a substantially vertical; compartmenh.

ing two opposite edges,

screen, f

cutting elementsydis'posed on theinteriorjsurface;of Iv cent the inner surface of said screen,.; g V elongated cuttin gmeanso n saidirotor, g 1

f a rotor rotatably monntedin: said compartment adja there is jtherefore h need-for v a thrust bearingonrthe idler shaftto counter thethrust of Itiis therefore seenfrom the foregoing thatthe'device of this inventionis a highly efiicient roller milljwhich j performs Welland which is easily place d in operation": The fineadjustment on .therolls canv be 'madei'and mainan arcuate perforated-screen insaid compartn ent haw said screen and said rotor being-of; such relative sizfeand being so relatively spaced that the clearance between the cutting path of the cutting means of said rotor and the center portion of said screen is less than that clearance at the edges of said screen.

2. In a roller mill,

a substantially vertical compartment,

an arcuate perforated screen in said compartment having two opposite edges,

cutting elements disposed on the interior surface of said screen, 7

a rotor rotatably mounted in said compartment adjacent the inner surface of said screen,

elongated cutting means on said rotor,

said screen and said rotor being of such relative size and being so relatively spaced that the clearance between the cutting path of the cutting means of said rotor and the interior surface of said screen becomes progressively less from the edges of said screen towards the center of said screen.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said screen includes hollow tubes along its two edges, with elongated retaining rods extending through said tubes and said compartment to attach said screen to said compartment.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said screen includes hollow tubes along its two edges, with elongated retaining rods extending through said tubes and said compartment to attach said screen to said compartment, and means for movably adjusting at least one of said rods with respect to said compartment to adjust the position of said screen with respect to said rotor.

5. The structure of claim 2 wherein said screen is secured by its opposite ends to said compartment, and length adjustable securing means interconnecting the exterior side of said screen and said compartment to exert radial tension on said screen.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein said screen is secured by its opposite ends to said compartment, and length adjustable securing means interconnecting the exterior side of said screen and said compartment to exert radial tension on said screen; said length adjustable securing means including hooks extending through eyelets on said screen, with the other end of said hooks being threadably secured to means on said compartment.

7. In a roller mill,

a substantially vertical compartment,

an arcuate perforated screen in said compartment having two opposite edges,

cutting elements disposed on the interior surface of said screen,

a rotor rotatably mounted in said compartment adjacent the inner surface of said screen,

elongated cutting means on said rotor,

said screen and said rotor being of such relative size and being so relatively spaced that the clearance between the cutting path of the cutting means of said rotor and the interior surface of said screen becomes progressively less from the edges of said screen towards the center of said screen,

parallel rolls rotatably mounted in the lower portion of said compartment,

means supporting at least one of said rolls whereby said roll is laterally movable with respect to said other roll,

a first control means secured to said movable roll to move said roll from an operative to an inoperative position with respect to said other roll,

and a second control means on said first control means to limit the operative position of said movable roll when said first control means moves said movable roll to its operative position with respect to said other roll. 7

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said compartment is comprised of an upper compartment means detachably secured to a lower compartment means, said rotor being mounted on said upper compartment means and said rolls being mounted on said lower compartment means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 633,753 9/99 Cowan 74-417 1,382,792 6/21 Leister 241-232 X 1,522,456 1/25 Howson.

1,595,014 8/26 Looser 241232 1,803,585 5/31 Battey 24l86 1,846,477 2/ 32 Dreier 241--222 1,862,907 6/ 32 Reschke 24186 1,928,887 10/33 Gredell 241-86 2,697,362 12/54 Keesling 74-417 2,873,921 2/59 Christiansen 241186 3,058,677 10/ 62 Linzberger 241-222 3,107,869 10/ 63 McIntire 241-232 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A ROLLER MILL, A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL COMPARTMENT, AN ARCUATE PERFORATED SCREEN IN SAID COMPARTMENT HAVING TWO OPPOSED EDGES, CUTTING ELEMENTS DISPOSED ON THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID SCREEN, A ROTOR ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID COMPARTMENT ADJACENT THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SCREEN, ELONGATED CUTTING MEANS ON SAID ROTOR, SAID SCREEN AND SAID ROTOR BEING OF SUCH RELATIVE SIZE AND BEING SO RELATIVELY SPACED THAT THE CLEARNACE BETWEEN THE CUTTING PATH OF THE CUTTING MEANS OF SAID ROTOR AND THE CENTER PORTION OF SAID SCREEN IS LESS THAN THAT CLEARANCE AT THE EDGES OF SAID SCREEN. 